Mountain West Conference Football Rivalries

The Mountain West Conference (MW) is a notable conference for college football in the United States. The conference was founded in 1998 and serves as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). It supervises college football games in various states like California, Nevada, Hawaii, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Utah. It is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, and works under the leadership of Gloria Nevarez, as of 2024.

The Mountain West Conference has 11 college football teams operating under it. These teams are Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, San Jose State, Utah State, Wyoming, San Diego State and UNLV. All these teams have formed rivalries among each other to establish their supremacy in the conference.

Read More:- FBS Independent Football Rivalries

Mountain West Conference Football Rivalry

The Mountain West Conference (MW) comprises 11 different college football teams vying for supremacy every season. As a result, there are thirteen different rivalries taking place between the teams every season. These are the Air Force-Colorado State rivalry and Air-Force-Hawaii rivalry, Boise State- Fresno State rivalry and Boise State-Nevada rivalry, Fresno State-Hawaii rivalry, Battle for the Oil Can (Fresno State-San Diego State rivalry) and Battle for the Valley (Fresno State-San Jose State rivalry).

Other rivalries include Border War (Colorado State-Wyoming), Dick Tomey Legacy Game (Hawaii-San Jose State rivalry), Ninth Island Showdown (Hawaii-UNLV rivalry) and Hawaii-Wyoming rivalry, Battle for Nevada (Nevada-UNLV rivalry) and Bridger’s Battle (Utah State-Wyoming rivalry).

Air Force-Colorado State Football Rivalry

The two teams in this rivalry are the Air Force Falcons of the United States Air Force Academy and the Colorado State Rams of Colorado State University. These two teams compete for the Ram-Falcon Trophy.

Air Force-Hawaii Football Rivalry

This rivalry consists of the teams of the Air Force Falcons of the United States Air Force Academy and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. These two teams compete for the Kuter Trophy.

Boise State-Fresno State Football Rivalry

The two teams in this rivalry include teams of the Boise State Broncos of Boise State University and the Fresno State Bulldogs of California State University, Fresno. The award for the rivalry of these teams is the Milk Can trophy.

Boise State-Nevada Football Rivalry

This rivalry comprises the teams of the Boise State Broncos from Boise State University and the Nevada Wolf Pack from the University of Nevada, Reno. They have carried on their rivalry for 46 years starting in 1971.

Border War

This rivalry series includes the teams of the Colorado State Rams of Colorado State Rams and the Wyoming Cowboys of the University of Wyoming. These teams compete for the Bronze Boot trophy.

Dick Tomey Legacy Game

This is a popular rivalry associated with the teams of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the San Jose State Spartans of San Jose State University. The teams get the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy for the rivalry.

Ninth Island Trophy or The Battle for the Golden Pineapple

This is a rivalry between the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the UNLV Rebels of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. These teams get the Golden Pineapple trophy for their rivalry.

Hawaii-Wyoming Football Rivalry

The two teams competing in this rivalry are the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the Wyoming Cowboys of the University of Wyoming. These teams compete for the Paniolo trophy.

Fresno State-Hawaii Football Rivalry

This rivalry is also known as “the Battle for the Golden Screwdriver”. The teams are the Fresno State Bulldogs of California State University, Fresno, and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. These teams get the Golden Screwdriver trophy.

Battle for the Oil Can

This rivalry is between the Fresno State Bulldogs of California State University, Fresno, and the San Diego State Aztecs of San Diego State University. This rivalry is for the Oil Can trophy.

Battle for the Valley

This rivalry is between the Fresno State Bulldogs of California State University, Fresno, and the San Jose State Spartans of San Jose State University. The teams compete for the Valley Trophy through their rivalry.

Battle for Nevada

This rivalry is between the Nevada Wolf Pack of the University of Nevada, Reno, and the UNLV Rebels of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The prize for the rivalry of these two teams is the Fremont Cannon.

Bridger’s Battle

This rivalry comprises the teams of the Utah State Aggies of Utah State University and the Wyoming Cowboys of the University of Wyoming. The teams compete for the Bridger Rifle through their games.

Rivalry Name	Team Name	Trophy	Rivalry Began	Trophy Series Rivalry
Air Force-Colorado State Football Rivalry	Air Force Falcons vs Colorado State Rams	Ram-Falcon Trophy	November 30, 1957	September 6, 1980
Air Force-Hawaii Football Rivalry	Air Force Falcons vs Hawaii Rainbow Warriors	Kuter Trophy	October 8, 1966	October 8, 1966
Boise State-Fresno State Football Rivalry	Boise State Broncos vs Fresno State Bulldogs	Milk Can	September 17, 1977	November 1, 2006
Boise State-Nevada Football Rivalry	Boise State Broncos vs Nevada Wolf Pack	NIL	September 25, 1971	NIL
Border War	Colorado State Rams vs Wyoming Cowboys	Bronze Boot Trophy	November 30, 1899	November 2, 1968
Dick Tomey Legacy Game	Hawaii Rainbow Warriors vs San Jose State Spartans	Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy	December 11, 1936	November 9, 2019
Ninth Island Showdown or The Battle for the Golden Pineapple	Hawaii Rainbow Warriors vs UNLV Rebels	Golden Pineapple trophy	2009	2017
Hawai’i-Wyoming Football Rivalry	Hawaii Rainbow Warriors vs Wyoming Cowboys	Paniolo Trophy	November 18, 1978	November 17, 1979
Fresno State-Hawaii Football Rivalry	Fresno State Bulldogs vs Hawaii Rainbow Warriors	Golden Screwdriver Trophy	November 18, 1938	Nil
Battle for the Oil Can	Fresno State Bulldogs vs San Diego State Aztecs	Oil Can Trophy	November 29, 1923	December 3, 2011
Battle for the Valley	Fresno State Bulldogs vs San Jose State Spartans	Valley Trophy	November 18, 1921	November 29, 2013
Battle for Nevada	Nevada Wolf Pack vs UNLV Rebels	Fremont Cannon	November 22, 1969	November 21, 1970
Bridger’s Battle	Utah State Aggies vs Wyoming Cowboys	Bridger Trophy	November 23, 1903	November 30, 2013